Petunia plant named &#39;DCAS301&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  cultivar named ‘DCAS301’ is disclosed, characterized by abundant medium sized flowers, unique red-purple with white rim flower coloration, strong plant vigor and a very well branched semi-trailing plant form. The new variety is a  Petunia,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Petunia sensu wijsman

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DCAS301’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Petunia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Petuniavarieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting inthis new variety was made during September of 2006.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to asPetunia sensu wijsman ‘cv. 6-921’. The pollen parent is the unpatented,proprietary variety referred to as Petunia sensu wijsman ‘cv. 6-1028’.The new variety was discovered in May of 2007 by the inventor in a groupof seedlings resulting from the 2006 crossing, in a research greenhousein Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetativecuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel in June of 2007 and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in morethan 25 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DCAS301’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DCAS301’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DCAS301’ as a new and distinct Petuniacultivar:

1. Semi-trailing growth habit.

2. Well branched plant with strong vigor.

3. Flowers color is red-purple with a white rim.

4. Flower size is medium.

5. Abundant flowering.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCAS301’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of thenew cultivar ‘DCAS301’ differ in the following:

1. Semi-trailing growth habit compared to the trailing growth habit ofthe seed parent.

2. Greater plant vigor.

3. Flowers color is red-purple with a white rim; seed parent flowercolor is pink with white stripes.

4. Smaller flower size.

5. Greater quantity of flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCAS301’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent; in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of thenew cultivar ‘DCAS301’ differ in the following;

1. Semi-trailing growth habit compared to the semi upright growth habitof pollen parent.

2. Very well branched plant compared to the moderately well branchedform of the pollen parent.

3. Flowers color is red-purple with a white rim; seed parent flowercolor is red with white rim.

4. Larger flower size.

5. Greater quantity of flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCAS301’ are comparable to the commercialvariety Petunia ‘Danlitt240’ unpatented. The two Petunia varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety‘DCAS301’ differs in the following:

1. Comparator flower size is smaller than the flower of the new variety

2. Flower color is Purple with White stripes, while the new variety hasRed-Purple flowers with a white rim.

3. Comparator plant has a mounded growth habit, while the new varietyhas a semi-trailing growth habit.

4. Comparator plant is compact, while the new variety has a strongvigor.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCAS301’ can also be compared to thecommercial variety Petunia ‘DANRAY3’, unpatented. These varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘DCAS301’ differsin the following:

1. Comparator flower size is larger than the flower of the new variety.

2. Comparator flower color is Light Purple with dark Purple veins, whilethe new variety has Red-Purple flowers with a White Rim.

3. Comparator plant has a mounded growth habit, while the new varietyhas a semi-trailing growth habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DCAS301’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm pot. Age ofthe plant photographed is approximately 3 months from a rooted cutting.FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of typical blooms of‘DCAS301’. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DCAS301’ plants grown in a greenhouse, inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 20°C. to 35° C. during the day and from 17° C. to 23° C. during the night.General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia sensu wijsman ‘DCAS301’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—10 to 14 days at approximately 20°            C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 60 days from a rooted            cutting.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-trailing.        -   Pot size of plant described.—13 cm.        -   Height.—To top of flowers: About 20 cm.        -   Plant spread.—About 50 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Strong.        -   Branching characteristics.—Very branched.        -   Length of primary lateral branches.—About 30 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—About 0.3 cm.        -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—8.        -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Form:            Cylindrical Diameter: About 0.3 cm. Color: Green 143 A RHS            Texture: Pubescent Strength: Strong, flexible.        -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite Quantity: Approximately 30 per            branch. Average Length: 5 cm. Average Width: 2.5 cm. Shape            of blade: Elliptic Apex: Acute Base: Tapered Margin: Entire            Texture of top surface: Velvety Texture of bottom surface:            Pubescent. Aspect: 90 degrees Color: Young foliage upper            side: RHS Green 137 B Young foliage under side: RHS Green            137 C Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green 137 B Mature            foliage under side: RHS Green 137 C Venation: Type: Pinnate            Venation color upper side: RHS Green 137 C Venation color            under side: RHS Green 137 D Petiole: Length: About 0.6 cm.            Diameter: About 0.2 cm. Color: RHS Green 137 B Texture:            Velvety.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring, Summer and Autumn.        -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—About 30 days.        -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Axillary, single            flower, salverform shape, outward facing.        -   Rate of flower opening.—2 to 3 days from bud to fully opened            flower.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—3 to 6 days.        -   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant.—About 60.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Bud.—Shape: Tubular Length: About 3.0 cm Diameter: About 0.5            cm Color: RHS Purple N77B        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 4 cm. Flower tube length: About            2 cm. Flower tube diameter at distal end: 1.0 cm. Flower            tube diameter at proximal end: 0.3 cm.        -   Petals.—Length from throat: About 1.5 cm. Width: About            1.6 cm. Quantity: 5 Texture: Velvety Apex: Acute Base:            Tapered Margin: Entire        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS Purple N 79 C with a            White Rim, RHS White NN155 D Lower surface: RHS Purple 79 C            Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple 71 A with a            White Rim, RHS White NN155 D Lower surface: RHS Purple N 79            D Flower throat (inside): RHS Violet N 88 B Flower throat,            vein: RHS Violet N 88 A Flower tube (outside): RHS Violet 85            C Flower tube, vein: RHS Yellow-Green 151 C Fading: Petals            fading to: RHS Red-Purple 71 C.        -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 Shape: Linear Length:            About 1.0 cm Width: About 0.1 cm Apex: Rounded Base: Fused            Margin: Entire Texture: Velvety upper and lower surfaces.            Color: Upper Surface: RHS Green 137 B Lower Surface: RHS            Green 137 C.        -   Peduncle.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 0.1 cm. Color:            RHS Green 137 B Orientation: 45 degrees.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5 Filament length: About 1.5 cm.        -   Anthers.—Length: About 0.1 cm Shape: Rounded Color: RHS            Violet-Blue 98 B Pollen: Color: RHS Violet-Blue 98 C            Quantity: Plenty.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: About 1.6 cm. Style: Length: About            1.9 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 149 C Stigma: Shape: Rounded            Color: RHS Green 144 D Ovary Color: RHS Green 144 C

Other characteristics:

-   -   -   Seeds and fruits.—About 40 brown, rounded seeds of about 0.5            mm diameter, per one brown, conical capsule. Size too small            for accurate R.H.S. color.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to the normal diseases and pest of Petunia            have been observed. Typical well known diseases include:            Botrytis cineria, Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, and            Rhizoctonia species. Typical well known pests include: Leaf            miners, spider mites, thrips and possibly caterpillars.        -   Temperature tolerance.—5-40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plantnamed ‘DCAS301’ as herein illustrated and described.